Why are nursing students so completely disrepected?

jadednurse · Oct 10, 2003

Originally posted by agent
This is in stark contrast to med students of whom most ppl generally respect and are treated like adults.

LOL! Trust me, the med students get their share of crap and humiliation too. Not that it justifies the way nursing students are treated, but it's the truth.

I remember as a nursing student constantly feeling like I was "in the way". The staff seemed so busy and I got the impression that as a nursing student I was just one more thing they had to deal with. This is why I'm a firm believer that not everybody is cut out to be a preceptor. You really have to have alot of patience, and most of all, you have to want to be in that role. Same goes for charge nurse duties. Definitely not something that should just be a mandated/rotating responsibility.

MICU RN · Oct 10, 2003

Welcome to nursing school. ANd in all fairness, I think because some nursing school students are barely out of high school the instructors feel that they are really not adult learners, yet. The problem though is that some times, especially in ADN programs the average age may be in the late 20's and they still treat you like a high school student. (very insulting)

I am now in grad school ( nursing ) and believe it or not some of the teachers still treat you like high school students, although, not most of them. I think this is a major problem they (the schools) need to address.

That is one of the main reasons, if I had to do all over again I would not have went this route, way too much BS. I have a friend who shortly after graduating a BSN program got accepted into med school and she said that one of the big differences between the two types of schools there was much less BS and you were treated more as a adult in med school. And in the clinical training, the nursing schools put you through hell compared to the med ical training. Now think about that, the students who will be making the decisions and giving the orders that will directly affect patients lives are not subjected to the same scrunity that they put the nursing student through. Something is wrong with that, BIG TIME!!!!.

So as I said in my introduction, welcome to nursing school and good luck!!!

kwagner_51 · Oct 10, 2003

I haven't had any problems yet with disrespect. I have been in clinicals now for 2 weeks. The nurses are respectful and seem glad for our help. The instructors in the classroom are also respectful. They don't talk down to us and allow us to ask questions.

However, if you feel they are treating you like a child, tell the instructor PRIVATELY how you feel. They may not realize they are doing that.

Good luck and God belss us every one!

agent · Oct 10, 2003

Originally posted by MICU RN
That is one of the main reasons, if I had to do all over again I would not have went this route, way too much BS. I have a friend who shortly after graduating a BSN program got accepted into med school and she said that one of the big differences between the two types of schools there was much less BS and you were treated more as a adult in med school.

So as I said in my introduction, welcome to nursing school and good luck!!!

I was as pre-med set to go to Northwestern but dropped out cause of my kids. It really kicks me that now I'm going to have to put up with this bullsh1t.

iliel · Oct 10, 2003

if your basing what you hear on the BB then you have to take in to consideration that these are complaints and probably no one is going to talk about the respect they got today in school....just dosn't make for good conversation.

I have some friends that went through med and dental school, and both said that they were expected to act like adults and in return were treated that way....unless....they screwed up and then they were treated like they were in kindergarden.

IMHO, I've seen ppl in my school that I wonder how they got this far, they don't think before speaking, turn in assignments late, etc. we all have our days and moments and I'm sure profs get to the point where they've had the same "dumb" questions asked over and over and if a student took a moment and thought about it, they could figure it out.

just do your best and you will be treated accordingly

colleen10 · Oct 10, 2003

I think students being disrespected depends on your age, like Anthony said, your instructor and the general attitude of the nursing school instructors and the staff at the hospital you are at.

Granted, I have only been in nursing clinicals for 8 weeks now but I feel that my instructor respects me and generally feel that way about the other instructors and staff I have encountered at my school and clinical site.

Don't get me wrong, one of my classmates was greatly, blantly and with no cause disrespected by a staff RN when she showed up to her day in the OR at a hospital where we generally don't have clinicals and where you go by yourself, no other classmates or instructors on premises. The RN made her leave as soon as she got there and swore at her amongst other things.

I guess, I'm trying to say that you can be disrespected anywhere. I am disrespected on a daily basis at my office where I work, which is in no way related to the medical field.

agent · Oct 10, 2003

Well I'll try to stay open-minded prior to going in. I'm an adult and a life long learner. I have several technical degrees on top of the A.S. I got. I'm doing this becasue I sincerely want to make a difference. I believe I will be a good nurse and I know what it feels like to sit in that hospital bed and I want to try to make that experience better for the people I care for.

I will excel and prove to these instructors that I deserve the respect and if they still don't give it then I'll be content in knowing that I am the better person.

iliel · Oct 10, 2003

agent, i have a feeling you will have no problem gaining the respect of your teacher and thoes you work with!

icesk8ie · Oct 10, 2003

In my 2 1/2 semesters of nursing school, I have seen both sides of the spectrum. This semester has been on the good side of the spectrum. My instructor trusts me, and therefore, I am quite autonomous as far as everything goes. I barely see her anymore than 3 or 4 times during my clinical day. The nurses on my wing are so willing to teach as much as they can, and I truly respect that. Last semester was a completely different story. My instructor didn't know how to say anything nice, and the nurses were the same. The funny thing is, as far as the nurses go, is that I was at the same hospital, just different floors!!! We actually had a discussion about this with the nurses I'm working with now. I am looking forward to May when I graduate so I can not have to worry about which instructor may want to make my life hell.

MtnMan · Oct 10, 2003

I suggest to you agent that you keep positive attitude and wait until you are a nursing student to react to a BB generalization. You are taking one pre-req at a time correct? Although I understand nursing is your current goal you have neither a connection to it in work or school at this point. Take some advice from AA One Day at a Time.

shape0fmyheart · Oct 10, 2003

Originally posted by MICU RN
ANd in all fairness, I think because some nursing school students are barely out of high school the instructors feel that they are really not adult learners, yet. The problem though is that some times, especially in ADN programs the average age may be in the late 20's and they still treat you like a high school student. (very insulting)

I don't think this is a fair judgement on anyone's part. I, along with 2 others in my class, am just out of high school. I think we are just as competent as everyone else and it is disrespectful and insulting even to us to be treated the way some nursing instructors treat students. Although I realize that age usually does have a lot to do with how people may look at you, we're all in the same boat and deserve the same amount of respect. One of the girls in my class is treated like crap by one of the nursing assistants during clinical just because she's so young. Definately age discrimination here.